'What Are You Doing...?': Supreme Court Slams Rajasthan Government Over Student Suicides In Kota

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on The Rajasthan government over the rise in student suicides in Kota. The top court called the situation "serious". A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan was hearing a matter over the death of a 22-year-old student studying at IIT, Kharagpur.

The bench said that 14 suicide cases have been reported in the city so far in 2025. "What are you doing as a state? Why are these children dying by suicide and only in Kota? Have you not given a thought as a state?" Justice Pardiwala asked the counsel representing the state of Rajasthan as reported by PTI.

Notably, the student was found hanging in his hostel room on May 4. The matter was also dealing with another girl, who was found hanging in her room in Kota. She was a NEET aspirant and was living with her parents.

An FIR was lodged in connection with the death of IIT Kharagpur's student on May 8. However, the apex court questioned the four-day delay in the FIR which was registered on May 8.

"Don't take these things lightly. These are very serious things," the bench noted. The bench also referred to a March 24 verdict of the top court which took note of recurring cases of student suicides in higher educational institutions. During that judgment, the SC formed a national task force to address the mental health concerns of students and prevent such incidents.

The bench was also not convinced with the explanation of the IIT Kharagpur counsel and the police officer. We could have taken a very strict view of the matter. We could have even proceeded for contempt against the police officer-in-charge concerned of the jurisdictional police station," the bench added.

The bench was not convinced by the explanation of the IIT Kharagpur counsel and the police officer over the death of the student.

Meanwhile, in the Kota suicide case, the bench disapproved non-filing of the FIR. The state's counsel told the bench that the investigation in the case was ongoing and the SIT was aware of suicide cases in the state.

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